THE NGUYÊN LÊ TRIO: MILLION WAVES

Very enjoying fusion album by semi acoustic power trio. Nguyen Le is well known by his guitar acrobatics, influenced by Hendrix and SE Asian folklore both. This one of early album is one I really like - not a world fusion of Nguyen later works, but real electric guitar-led jazz fusion, influenced by Hendrix, but enough personal not to be a clone.

There are two covers on this album - Hendrix's classics " Little Wing" and James Brown's classics " I Feel Good". Other compositions are original. Both covers sound very competent, but not too far from originals (ok, "I Feel Good" is less funky and more Hendrix-like).

But main interest is original compositions. Nguyen's guitar, even openly Hendrix-influenced, sound softer, more soulful, and more jazzy. Compositions sound well rounded and well balanced, with many (jazzy) emotional accents. Playing quite popular kind of fusion, Nguyen still is able to find his own sound. Album's sound mix is minimalist acoustic, what is real plus.

In all - really very enjoying album. Yes, you will hardly find there innovations or experimentations, but for classic, even vintage jazz fusion album, this work sounds surprisingly fresh and attractive. Main album's problem is luck of originality, but you will find it in later Nguyen albums (to be honest with different success).

My rating is 3+.